Just did my first ever Mac job

[seedubya]

I just finished my first every Mac job. It was a simple enough one. Safari crashed every time it opened. A little googling and reading of the crash report and voila Safari now works.

How I got it was I was in Curry's (big box retailer) yesterday evening and a lady I haven't seen for about 6 years walked in desperately looking for someone who'd service a Mac. She'd been to 5 different techs in town and "Sorry we don't do Macs". I told her I'd have a look FOC and if I could fix it I'd would, if not no charge. She was delighted. It took me about half an hour all told.

 

[nj_computer_repair]

That's awesome!

 

[seedubya]

Thanks. Macs aren't as common here as in the States. End users having them is almost unheard of.

 

[Bryce W]

Congrats seedubya. You'll find that Mac repairs is a niche that doesnt have much competition as so many PC technicians completely dismiss it. You'll also find that most Mac repairs are incredibly easy.

A few jobs ago, all I had to do was unbox a iMac, hook it up and turn it on. Other jobs have been just to install the printer or set up an email address.

Its great work and I am glad I got into it.

 

[seedubya]

Thanks Bryce. Is there a Mac technicians qualification do you know? I'd be interested in doing it if there is. One of the things I've noticed is that there are quite a few businesses locally using Macs but they only use techs. from Mac only companies, the nearest of which is 80km away. I reckon that's a niche I could fill.

 

[thebeardedone]

Is there a Mac technicians qualification do you know? I'd be interested in doing it if there is.

http://training.apple.com/certification/acmt

Hope that helps

 

[seedubya]

thanks beardy - hope you don't mind be calling you beardy it's easier than typing "thebeardedone" - which of course is now rendered entirely moot. Hmm... probably shouldn't have had that last beer. But thanks again. Off to bed methinks, almost 2am.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Thanks Bryce. Is there a Mac technicians qualification do you know? I'd be interested in doing it if there is. One of the things I've noticed is that there are quite a few businesses locally using Macs but they only use techs. from Mac only companies, the nearest of which is 80km away. I reckon that's a niche I could fill.

We do pretty well in that niche market. We get customers from all over. I can't tell you how many clients I get that are about to leave town and don't have a Mac shop where they are going, or are in visiting from out of town and don't have a Mac shop back at home. Plus we get alot of schools that bring their Macs to us. Plus you'd be surprised how many business clients you'll pick up.

The ACMT (Apple certified Macintosh technician) cert is what these businesses want. Its not so much the businesses as it is Apple. But the ACMT isn't going to do you a bit of good without being affiliated with an AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider) or working for a company or school with a SSA (Self Servicing Account). You have to be a AASP to order parts and have access to all of Apples resources (i.e. service manuals, more detailed service diagnostics besides Apple Hardware Tests). Some of these businesses have self servicing accounts if they have more than 50 machines where they can order parts for their own machines and must have an ACMT on staff to do repairs.

http://www.apple.com/support/programs/aasp/
http://www.apple.com/support/programs/ssa/
http://training.apple.com/certification

Let me know if there is any way I could help you out.

 

[seedubya]

Thanks for the info. Like I say Macs are unusual here, even in graphics/publishing. I'll have to look at the AASP also then.

 

[DanF]

I want to work on MACS as well. There's only one official seller here and only 2 technicians that I'm aware of on this island. The problem is that there's no place where I could study about MAC servicing... so I will have to learn on my own.

Do you know of any online place where I could learn?

Thanks.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

I want to work on MACS as well. There's only one official seller here and only 2 technicians that I'm aware of on this island. The problem is that there's no place where I could study about MAC servicing... so I will have to learn on my own.

Do you know of any online place where I could learn?

Thanks.

Its either work for an AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider) where all of the training material is provided free through the service providers GSX (Global Service Exchange) portal or else:
http://www.apple.com/support/products/techtrain.html

Then the certification tests consists of a hardware test, and an OSX test which each costs $150.00 each to be taken at a Prometric testing center. Then you need to recertify each year. But to recertify its open book and at home to take the recert exam.

 

[iisjman07]

Thanks. Macs aren't as common here as in the States. End users having them is almost unheard of.

This is sooooo true. I live in the UK along the south coast (bognor regis ftw!), and in my whole 15 years of living the only home user I've seen with a mac is a friend who does alot of art type stuff. They have them at schools, but the problem is in the UK they're so expensive, coupled with the fact that people don't want to learn something new, and that people are cheap.